Fairs and Events

SAES progress towards a cyber secure environment in both its digital infrastructure and its products

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Following the collaboration agreement on cybersecurity with the University of Murcia, SAES continues with the set of activities planned with the objective of improving information security. The first activity has been a webinar to SAES employees about how and why is important to be protected from cyber attacks not just at work but also at home.

Cybercrime (as a criminal activity that either targets or uses a computer, a computer network or a networked device) has become the most profitable illicit business in the world, ranking even above drug trafficking. If we bear in mind that nowadays hackers are more and more professionalised, that cybercrime is a constant threat and that almost everything can be hacked, it is a must to know all threats that we face an how to be protected against them.

Following the collaboration agreement on cybersecurity with the University of Murcia (UMU), an action plan has been developed with specific measures for SAES, with the objective of improving the information security in the company.

Cybercrime is a constant threat. SAES is moving towards a cyber-secure environment for its digital infrastructure and products.

On 26th November took place the first webinar in a series of online talks to all SAES employees, in terms of cyber security awareness raising. The talk given by University of Murcia experts was titled ‘Do I really need to have basic knowledge about cybercrime to do my job at SAES?’.

The main objectives in this first session were, on the one hand, to raise awareness of what cybercrime means and how can affect us at professional and personal levels. On the other hand, to advise and provide tools to protect us from hackers in our daily life. Cyber attacks usually seek to obtain sensitive information (banking dara, passwords, confidential information from your company, etc.)

According to UMU experts, hackers always look for the weakest link and take advantage of our lack of awareness and knowledge on cybercrime in order to focus their attacks on that and search for new ways of accessing our devices. For instance, it is possible to hack internet-connected devices such as a food processor or a vacuum cleaner and then reach the rest of devices with more sensitive data such as passwords or banking information.

The only way to protect us from such attacks is by raising awareness and ensuring that all recommendations on confidentiality, integrity and availability are implemented. Specific advice was given during the webinar to avoid phishing, to use safe passwords, to protect us from an identity theft or to safely use devices or online platforms.

SAES strategic plan provides for improving both Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Cybercrime capabilities in SAES products and its digital infrastructure to enhance the competitiveness of the company. Therefore, SAES has recently signed two collaboration agreements on these subjects with the Polytechnic University of Cartagena (on AI) and the University of Murcia (on cybercrime).

The Master Plan for Information Security developed by SAES includes specific actions not just in terms of technology systems but also for training employees and raising both awareness and knowledge. One of the key elements to maintain the safety of information is to target the human factor: most of the online attacks seek to mislead people, a lot more than to reach vulnerable systems.

Within the framework of the collaboration agreement on cybersecurity mentioned above, SAES will continue to research innovative solutions to strengthen the company’s products so that cyber security also becomes a competitive advantage.

SAES sponsors the first Mine Countermeasures Webinar (I WCMM) in Brazil

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Javier Rodrigo, Maritime Safety Product Manager, gives a conference on SAES expertise in underwater defence as well as signature measurement, smart naval mines and TDD (Target Detection Devices).

SAES showcases its CMM capabilities at the First Webinar on Mine Countermeasures (I WCMM)
SAES showcases its CMM capabilities at the First Webinar on Mine Countermeasures (I WCMM)

SAES takes part and sponsors the first Mine Countermeasures Webinar (I WCMM) hold 9-10 November in Salvador de Bahia (Brazil). The event is organised by the Brazilian Navy, through the 2nd Naval District Command. This edition goes online due to the restrictions recommended by the COVID-19 pandemic, and features the participation of the Brazilian and French Navies, as well as international corporations such as Saab, Omnisys / Thales, Abeking & Rasmussen and Kongsberg.

The Brazilian Navy, through the 2nd Naval District Command, holds every two years an International Congress, presential, focused on Mine Countermeasures (MCM) Operations. According to the organisers, the event aims to promote the exchange of technical and doctrinal information, strengthen ties between Navies, disseminate new systems available in the market and projects, as well as promote possible partnerships.

SAES participation aims to increase business opportunities in Brazil with the Maritime Safety product line. Javier Rodrigo presentation, as Maritime Safety Product Manager, has shown SAES expertise in mine warfare, mine countermeasures (MCM), signature measurement, naval mines supply and Target Detection Devices.

SAES has developed its own design of the TDD component that is installed in its naval mines, as well as in other mines or in other different kinds of carcases which emulate both the form and the functioning of different kinds of mines. Several Navies are updating their current mines by integrating modern TDD elements with more capabilities, such us the one designed by SAES.

SAES, as a company specialised in underwater defence and in particular in naval mines, has been invited as an expert in the field since the first edition of this conference, back in 2017 in Rio de Janeiro (Brazil). SAES has also participated in the ‘Mine Warfare Symposium’ which inspired the current event, where SAES participated altogether with Navantia, with conferences about smart naval mines as well as acoustic, magnetic, electric, seismic and pressure signatures of vessels.

SAES participates in Feindef 2021, the largest Defence exhibition in Spain, as an ‘Innovation Partner’

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The second edition of the International Defence and Security Fair (Feindef) returns to IFEMA from 3 to 5 November, where SAES will be sponsoring INNOVATION . The MIRS system, developed by SAES to measure the different multi-influence signatures of ships, as well as its maritime security devices, will be on display at the stand.

The most important fair of the defence and security sector in Spain, Feindef, celebrates its second edition from 3 to 5 November at the IFEMA facilities. This event has become the national reference forum to share knowledge and cooperate ringing together companies, organizations, universities and other organisations in the sector. SAES participates as an Innovation Partner, following its strategic commitment to support the best innovation projects in the defence and security sector.

SAES is leader in underwater technology and innovation, and it is showing some of its most advanced products at Feindef, such us the MIRS system that measures multi-influence signatures (acoustic, electrical, magnetic, pressure and seismic) of ships. This MIRS system developed by SAES is already used in several countries, and in the coming months a station of these characteristics will allow Navantia and the Spanish Navy to measure the signatures that characterise the S-80 submarines.

This technology is also applied to maritime security devices such as MINEA, a product that SAES is also exhibiting at Feindef: a multipurpose system that provides a complete solution to all activities related to mining and counter-mining operations.

SAES is also exhibiting the DDS or Diver Detection System: a small, lightweight active sonar that is used as a protection device easily deployable from the side of a ship or installed in fixed mode as a defence at the entrance of a port or critical facilities.

 

Leaders in underwater acoustics and electronics

SAES is therefore a leader in sonar technology and anti-submarine defence, backed by its participation in the Spanish Navy’s major naval programmes for more than 30 years. Among others, it has been an essential part of the Spanish Segura class minehunters, the S-70 and S-80 submarines, the F-100 and F110 frigates and the P-3M maritime patrol aircraft, all of them dedicated to the submarine defence of our coasts.

In its commitment to the environment, SAES makes its technology available to civil applications with systems and services for the measurement of underwater noise and electromagnetic pollution, offering analysis and modelling tools to study and evaluate the noise produced by ships, underwater wind farms, oil platforms and other marine installations.

The positioning of SAES as a leading technology company is reinforced in its strategic plan for 2022, in which resources are expanded to carry out an internal digital transformation process and for the incorporation of new technologies, with special attention to artificial intelligence and cybersecurity.     As part of this effort, its facilities have been adapted and approved for the manufacture of the elements that make up the F110’s hull sonar and its subsequent testing process.

 

SAES participates en Feindef 2021 as Innovation Partner

SAES participates in the closing ceremony of the ‘I want to be an engineer’ mentoring programme at Cartagena Polytechnic University

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SAES has taken part this year in the mentoring programme developed by the Spanish Royal Academy of Engineering (‘Women & Engineering’ project) in partnership with the Cartagena Polytechnic University. The project aims to strengthen scientific and technological vocation among young girls and it celebrates its closing ceremony on Friday 15th October with the presence of all the partner companies.

The Women’s Talent and Excellence Development Programme was launched by the Spanish Royal Academy of Engineering with the partnership of the Cartagena Polytechnic University (UPCT), targeting female students in their last year of their master’s degree, postgraduates or newly-qualified engineers. The objective of this programme is to motivate young students and foster vocations in STEM studies (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) so that more women decide to pursue these specialities, as well as help develop their professional career until they reach decision-making positions.

Three women in SAES management positions have been mentoring and guiding young female engineers into their access to the job market: Cristina Abad (General Manager, Industrial Automatics and Electronics Engineer); Sara García (Director of Digital Transformation & Innovation, Telecommunications Engineer); and Esther Corbalán (Director of Human Ressources, Bachelor’s degree in Mathematics).

The Excellence in Mentoring closing gala was opened by Beatriz Miguel, Rector of the UPCT, accompanied by Javier Pérez, Director of the Royal Academy of Engineering, as well as Sara Gómez, Director of the Women & Engineering project.

Esther Corbalán, Director of HHRR for SAES, Esther Corbalán, during her speech at the “Women and Engineering” ceremony at the Polytechnic University of Cartagena (UPCT)

Esther Corbalán, Director of HHRR for SAES, has taken part in the closing ceremony sharing her experience as a mentor. She explained young students and newly-qualified engineers that her professional experience can be summed up in two words: versatility and challenge. “Engineering profiles are quite versatile, meaning highly specialised in a very specific area of knowledge at the same time that are able to perform other tasks with the help of training and constant updating.”

Esther Corbalán, along with the mentee Maria Jesús García Aparicio, and the presenter of the event, Patricia Martínez, Industrial Engineer at Técnicas Reunidas.

Sara García shared her experience as a mentor and highlighted the importance of teaching through every-day examples and the professional experience of technical experts. “Society is slowly progressing when underlying the work of outstanding women in History, and we need more ordinary women in technical STEM studies, not just a female Nobel prize winner or PM… so that we can eliminate the exceptional nature connotation.”

Cristina Abad, SAES General Manager, explained that “it has been a privilege to take part in this programme, we are very proud of helping draw attention to women’s presence in technological sectors in managing positions, where we clearly miss more female leaders”.

You can see the closing ceremony at this link.

SAES participates in a presentation on the economic, industrial and social impact of the defence sector in Andalusia

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Cristina Abad, SAES General Manager, took part in the round table scheduled for the II Course on Defence and Strategic Studies of the International University of Andalusia (UNIA): “Towards the Spanish Armed Forces of the XXI century”. The aim of this event was to highlight the political, social and economic importance of investing in the Defence sector.

  SAES General Manager, Cristina Abad, participated last 6th October in the round table on the economic, industrial and social impact of the defence sector in Andalusia, scheduled within the II Course on Defence and Strategic Studies. The theme of the round table was ‘Towards the Spanish Armed Forces of the XXI century,’ and it was organised by the International University of Andalusia (UNIA).

According to Cristina Abad, “it is important to know the contribution to society of companies in the defence sector such as SAES, which is a public company that generates employment and develops high technology in Andalusia and the region of Murcia.”

SAES in Defence Course of the International University of Andalusia
Cristina Abad y Cristóbal Sánchez in the center, Maite Sampalo, on the left y Christian Villanueva on the right.

Some other participants in the round table were: Cristóbal Sánchez, Secretary of the Junta de Andalucía for Industry; Christian Villanueva, Editor of “Ejércitos” magazine; and Maite Sampalo, Economic and Planning Manager of the Bahía de Cádiz for Navantia.

Guillem Colom, professor at Pablo de Olavide University (UPO), directed the Summer course ‘Towards the Spanish Armed Forces of the XXI century’, which took place 5th-6th October, in both onsite and online formats. The objective was to discuss the political, social and economic importance of investing in the defence sector and how relevant is to having a modern, balanced, viable and sustainable army.

  This training, in which he collaborates with the Secretary General for Defence Policy (Ministry of Defence), aims to learn about the main strategic-military trends and their potential impact on the Spanish defence sector, as well as to analyse the activities that are being carried out to adapt the Spanish Armed Forces to the future operating environment; and also to understand the national defence planning process, its main conditioning factors, as well as its financing and support.

SAES presents its underwater measurement systems for the civil sector at World Maritime Week (WMW) in Bilbao

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SAES exhibits at SINAVAL its MIRS model, a dual application which works as a multi-influence radiation measurement system for ships, as well as an underwater measuring station for environmental assessment. SINAVAL, focused on shipbuilding, is one of the five congresses held by the International Maritime Week. The event is organised by the Bilbao Exhibition Center (BEC) from 5th to 7th October.

SAES participates as a co-exhibitor with Navantia in SINAVAL, the international naval congress part of the “World Maritime Week 2021”, which hosts in parallel 4 other congresses related to the following fields: fishing (EUROFISHING); ports (FUTUREPORT); upstream and downstream oil & gas (OIL & GAS CONFERENCE); and wave, tidal and current energy (OCEAN ENERGY CONFERENCE).

 SAES is interested in the five areas of the WORLD MARITIME WEEK and is showing at SINAVAL its portfolio of underwater measurement and analysis products as well as its services for the civil sector, such as the SDH smart digital hydrophone or the MIRS: a multi-influence signature measurement system for ships, applicable for environmental assessment. This system is one of a wide range of SAES products with dual applications for both the defence and civil markets: from diver detection sonars (detection of underwater intrusion) to multi-influence signature measurement systems and sonobuoys acoustic processor systems.

Adolfo Hernández, SAES Comercial Director ( a la derecha), together with Head of the Civil Market & Security, Eduardo Ruiz.

As specialist in underwater acoustics, SAES is also presenting its DDS-03: a high-frequency sonar specially designed for the for the detection of underwater threats, such as divers and manned and unmanned underwater vehicles, as well as the protection and surveillance of critical infrastructures (whether they are shipyards, ports, aquaculture facilities, oil or gas extraction and processing platforms or marine generators).

The system watches over the underwater area to be protected autonomously and continuously. When detecting a threat, the system generates an alert and continues to monitor it, allowing to know the exact position, distance, trajectory, and type of threat. This information enables to be activated well in advance acoustic deterrents to counter the threat, such as dispatching a patrol to the area.

Both the sonar and the acoustic deterrent system allow their deployment from patrol boats, manned or not, thus expanding the coverage radius of the system, compared to a fixed installation.    

Underwater measurement for the civil sector

SAES has products for underwater measurement and analysis services for the civil sector, such as the SDH smart digital hydrophone or the MIRS system.

The MIRS system measures and processes not only acoustic emissions but also electrical and magnetic radiation and other influences and parameters such as the seismic wave and the temperature.

On the other hand, the SDH is a dual device designed and built to be used by oceanographic institutes, universities, certification companies as well as for applications in the military sector. One of the main applications of the SDH smart digital hydrophone is the measurement of the indicators defined in descriptor 11 (European Directive 2008/56/EC establishing a framework for community action in the field of marine environmental policy).

These solutions are applicable to conducting scientific and environmental studies, as well as to verifying underwater noise levels caused by maritime traffic, construction activities at sea, oil and gas extraction platforms and offshore wind fields, among others; as well as any facility or activity that may introduce energy into the marine environment.

   

SAES participates in Defence and Security Technologies workshops

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The aim of the workshops organised by Círculo Foundation this year is to debate about a ‘new digitalised scenario where everyone is hyperconnected, autonomous and smart’. Experts from the Spanish armed forces, law enforcement agents, university, public research organisations and technology firms are taking part in the event. SAES is present the 29th September in the round table on ‘platforms: complexity, autonomy and intelligence’.

The 19th edition of the Defence and Security Technologies workshops organised by Círculo Foundation take place 29th-30th September in the National Institute for Aerospace Technology (INTA) in Madrid, Spain. The aim of these workshops is to analyse the new scenario faced by the Defence and Security sectors: the growing digitalisation of a hyperconnected, autonomous and intelligent world, focusing on emerging technologies that are boosting this trend (AI, big data, etc.)

Experts from the Spanish armed forces, law enforcement agents, university, public research organisations and technology firms will be debating in conferences and rounded tables on ‘the reasons and significance of these smart technologies our country should be backing’, according to the organisers.

SAES General Manager, Cristina Abad, together with SAES Defense Advisor, José Meca

Representing SAES will be Cristina Abad (general manager); Joaquín López (CEO); Sara García (Head of Digital Transformation and Innovation); and Ignacio Gutiérrez (ASW product manager) who is also a speaker at the round table on new platforms, with representatives of the Spanish Ministry of Defence, Airbus Defence & Space,  Deimos Space, Isdefe and Sener.

According to Cristina Abad, the input from SAES will focus on “AI solutions and on board processing systems which allow an autonomous mission planning with results in real time”. As a great example of this, SAES will show the Antisubmarine Warfare (ASW) ROASW system, which is fully integrated in Navantia’s command and control system since 2016.

Cristina Abad talking to ADIC Manuel Martinez Ruiz, along with AJEMA Antonio Martorell Lacave.

Círculo Foundation

The Círculo Foundation for Defence and Security Technologies (previously known as Military Electronics Circle) was created in 2005 as a meeting forum for discussion including experts and companies from both sectors. Among their main objectives are ‘to promote initiatives to create and develop national technologies to be applied on the Defence and Security sectors’, as well as ‘to boost interaction and cooperation among all beneficiaries of the foundation, especially in innovation and research projects’.

This foundation is integrated by several Spanish Ministries (Defence, Domestic Affairs, Economic Affairs, Science and Innovation) as well as prestigious institutions such as CSIC, CNI, INTA, academia and technology firms from both Defence and Security sectors, including SAES.

SAES supports the 39th edition of the Navy Golf Championship

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The tournament, organised by the Central Board of Physical Education and Sports of the Spanish Navy and supported by SAES since 2009, is held in Cádiz from September 24 to 25.

  The 39th edition of the Navy Golf Championship takes place at the Villanueva Golf & Croquet Resort, in Puerto Real (Cádiz) from 24th to 25th Sep 2021, with a hundred players from different cities across Spain. This championship is part of the Activities Plan created by the Central Board of Physical Education and Sports of the Spanish Navy.

The 39th edition of the Navy Golf Championship takes place at the Villanueva Golf & Croquet Resort, in Puerto Real (Cádiz)

The event is held this year thanks to the improvement of the COVID-19 situation; however, it is required that all players pesent the complete vaccination programme.

All participants will be divided into three categories according to their handicaps, playing under the modality of “stableford” with handicap. The winner will be established according to the best “scratch” result within the modality of the programmed game (“stableford scratch”).

The closing ceremony will be chaired by Admiral Chief of the Arsenal of Cádiz and Chief of the Naval Base of Rota, Vice Admiral, Ricardo A. Hernández López, accompanied by the Admiral Chief of Staff of the Navy, Fausto Escrigas Rodríguez and the Admiral Director of Education Naval, Victoriano Gilabert Agote. As in previous editions, several civil and military authorities will attend, as well as the companies sponsoring the event, such as SAES. Consuelo Lázaro, SAES Director of Operations, will attend representing the company.

SAES is supporting the championship since 2009, considering that the practice of this sport, especially in these times of a global pandemic, helps keeping the psychophysical conditions of all participants and favors both their camaraderie and sportsmanship.

SAES participates in ASW Barrier workshops, held in Portugal in parallel with the largest NATO exercise on Maritime Unmanned Systems

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SAES is one of the Spanish companies taking part in the workshop of the ASW Barrier – Smart Defence Initiative, a multinational plan which aims to develop anti-submarine warfare barrier capabilities across the Alliance and supported by 11 countries, including Spain.

SAES has taken part in the ASW Barrier workshop within the NATO’s REP MUS 21 exercise (Robotic Experimentation and Prototyping Augmented by Maritime Unmanned Systems), held in Portugal from 13th to 24th September. As a company specialised in underwater acoustics and electronics, SAES participated in a conference where the ‘ASW Barrier – Smart Defence Initiative’ was presented to companies interested as well as in the following networking sessions to establish stronger ties among participants.

Around ten companies from Spain, France, Italy, UK and Australia have taken part in the ASW Barrier event, as well as representatives of the Armed forces from those countries, Portugal, Romania, and the NATO’s Centre for Maritime Research and Experimentation (CMRE).

The ASW Barrier project has a multinational approach and aims to develop the anti-submarine warfare barrier capabilities across the Alliance, and it is supported by 11 countries: Australia, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, the UK and the US. The SDI is sponsored by NATO’s Maritime Unmanned Systems (MUS) initiative.

Some of the main objectives of the ASW Barrier plan include from improving the anti-submarine warfare systems to going in depth in the fusion of different sensors information to facilitate decision-making as well as the use of marine unmanned systems.

REP MUS 2021

REP MUS 21 consist of large-scale unmanned systems exercises in a multinational and cooperative environment where Academia, Armed forces and industry from different countries engage in technological experimentation activities and procedures and tactics for MUS in real-life operational scenarios.

Navantia (the Spanish state-owned shipbuilding company) is showing at REP MUS 21 its USV Vendaval: the first aluminum boat USV / Unmanned Surface Vessel with autonomous navigation capacity, already in active operation in the Ceuta Port Authority (Spain).

SAES is collaborating with Navantia in a variety of initiatives to develop the underwater sensor capabilities Viento Class USV, to be used on both civil and defence applications.


SAES participates with Navantia in DSEI London, the largest international security and defence exhibition

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SAES presents the portable MIRS (Multi Influence Range System), for the measurement of multi-influence signatures for surface vessels and submarines. This system is used to measure ship noise and has important applications in both the defence and environmental sectors.

SAES participates as a co-exhibitor with Navantia at the DSEI (Defence and Security Equipment International) trade exhibition, held in London from September 14th to 17th, where its customised high-tech solutions for the civil and military markets are shown.  

SAES in DSEI 2021
SAES presents MIRS system in DSEI London

As a company specialised in underwater acoustic and non-acoustic signal processing, SAES develops defence and security solutions on board all types of platforms: submarines, surface ships as well as aircraft and anti-submarine helicopters.

Portable multi-influence measurement system

MIRS is a multi-influence signature measurement system for surface and submarine vessels that simultaneously measures magnetic, electrical, acoustic and pressure influences.

Its portability allows its use in the desired scenario for multiple purposes: to obtain the ship’s signature in a real scenario; to use it in a fixed station, as a discrete way of obtaining intelligence in strategic areas; and routine checks of the firm or before of a mission.

Both MIRS underwater measuring station and SDH intelligent digital hydrophone can also be applied to carry out scientific and environmental studies, as well as to measure and study the underwater noise levels emitted from ships and coastal industrial facilities in pre-defined zones of interest. In this way, it is possible to control that these levels remain within defined thresholds as well as to reduce the impact produced by activities such as maritime traffic, construction activities at sea, oil & gas platforms and offshore wind fields.